A Rebel With(out) A Cause

Last few weeks saw a lot of News emanating from a new manufacturing plant of an Indian automobile Major being built for a new car, which, co-incidentally, is the hope of many an Indian who have always dreamt of owning a car. Right, there's every reason for the manufacturing plant to be in the News- It symbolizes the resurgent West Bengal, which seems to have awakened under an able (and willing) leadership to stride the path of progress; the car being built is going to be the cheapest ever, and that would mean more people can afford to buy it. So what's the Big Deal?


The Big Deal is that, the plant is in the News for all the wrong reasons. It is in the midst of a big, probably political, turmoil unfolding around it. Some so-called political do-gooder Lady has ostensibly taken up the cause of the farmers who have 'lost' their lands to the factory. She had put up dais in front of the site to protest, and her loyal followers are making sure, one way or the other, that workers don't turn up for work. I wonder. Why now, when the plant is on the verge of completion? Why there, at the site, when if the farmers were not compensated adequately, it is not the Company but the Government which is to blame. If at all, there is something that can, or has to be done, that has to be done by the Government. Why make the hopes and aspirations of the common man suffer? Some of the workers in the plant are those who have lost their lands too, but were absorbed by the Auto Major for the work at the plant. Moreover, most of them live on daily wages- a day without work is a day without food. I am not even mentioning the bated breath wait of many Indians who are looking forward to the launch of the small car which was supposed to roll out of this plant, and how this wait just got prolonged. Indefinitely. This well-fed fat Lady sits pretty on the dais and plays around with the fate of The Masses. Sad. Unfortunate.


India's been churning out winners in every facet of life it seems. Every, except Politics.I wonder. Are we really the same nation that saw great politicians like Chanakya? Or have we de-evolved into some degenerate nation, a nation which has chosen to forget the illustrious, elaborate, and well-documented political history and become something that most of us find hard to relate with. It all seemed believable, worthwhile, for sometime. She might have had a point, this Lady, and people almost believed she had a cause worth fighting for... that she was leading on a Crusade for The Masses. And like every crusade, there were going to be people who had to suffer, all for the greater good of The Masses. Until when the bargaining started. What the F***?! A compromise? How can someone compromise when that someone is fighting for a cause? For all I know, for all that I believe in, when you fight for a cause, you dont compromise... you dont even rest till you have got what you stood up for. It's either your way or no way at all. That's the way it's always been. That's the way it always will be. There's something else, a side of the story that goes beyond the stated purpose. Something that I cant comprehend, or maybe, something that I shudder at the thought of. The farmers are mere pawns being sacrificed for something that their simple minds cant think of. They have placed their life, their fate, in the hands of a Rebel Without A Cause, someone who can ditch their side anytime and leave them clueless as to what really happened. The lambs are being led to sacrifice. And as usual, they are being made to believe that they are moving to greener pastures.


A more humane face was shown by the Auto Major when they stated that they will move out of the place, and just so that the workers at the present side are not left in the lurch due to this political hullabaloo, it said that it will ensure their absorption at the Major's other production plants. Standing Ovation. A good company is the one that is made by it's employees, and a good company is the one which realizes that and stands by them when it is needed. Are you listening, Lady? Are you paying attention? And as the political imbroglio continues to unfold, the Nation loses its interest and just prays that it all gets over soon.


Go home, Old Lady. Take a rest. You are a Rebel Without A Cause. Come back when you have a Cause. Come back when you are strong enough to stand up for the Cause. Come back when you really can Lead. Till then, I just pray for your foolishness to end. Amen.

The Day The Machines Come Alive

What makes us humans different from the other animals? What is the power that is specially bestowed upon us, which other living beings dont possess?

I am sure most of us have pondered over this, and each one of us has come up with their own answers, and explanations thereof. Well, so have I, and according to me, what makes us different from other living beings is our ability to create. We take lessons from our surroundings, from Nature, and create things. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes just useful, but always, something new. Something that excites us, pleases us, makes us happy, and makes our lives a little better. Be it a painting, a new car, or just a new film, it's always a joy to create. Ask anyone who has created something about how it feels to create, and he will tell you how beautiful the feeling is. That's what I am going to do now- tell you the story of creation. About how it felt to create.

At some point in my life, I had been working on Uninterrupted Power Supplies, UPSes for short. For those who (still) dont know, they are the machines that make sure there's power even when there isn't. What we used to start off with was an empty cabinet that used to some from the foundry. The skeleton. Then we used to put wires into them, which would be used to connect the various working parts of the UPS. The veins, arteries. It was an art, a science. Using the right colour wires, cutting them to the right size, so that we minimize the wastage, and optimize the amount of wire that we used. Then came the part of crimping, which is where we prepare the wires to accept the right kind of 'jacks', which are usually kind of plugs, which go into special sockets. All that kind of work requires passion, just to get it right. Once the wires are prepared, then come in the PCBs, which are small electrical circuits 'printed' onto a board. Machines onto themselves, each has a unique function to accomplish in the working of the bigger machine, the UPS. The brain, the organs. Fitted onto the cabinet, they are connected to each other using the wires already put into place. After that, it is the heavier parts like the transformers which are put into place. Then the machine makes its way to the testing rig. There, all the parts are tested for their performance- the PCBs, the transformer, the switches et al. Once successfully tested, the covers and doors are put onto the bare machine, and it is ready to leave the workshop and begin its productive life as a UPS.

It was an amazing experience to work with machines. Even though it was routine, and there was actually nothing new that I was creating, everytime I touched the parts, put something in, I could feel the machine responding to me. It felt like I was transferring some of my life energy to the machine, doing my bit, playing my part in making it come alive. So did everyone else in the factory. That made me wonder- why do some machines work and others dont? Why do some of them develop faults (become sick) much sooner than others? It was not hard to find the answers. It lay in the passion that the team put in while building the machines. Sometimes we do things just for the sake of doing it, sometimes we do it because we feel that we can do nothing else. Yet sometimes, we do things just because we want to do those things. Not necessarily different things, but it might be the same thing, something that we are doing day in and day out. It is only sometimes that we really get involved, and thats when the transfer of positive life energy takes place. You decide the fate of your creation the moment you create it.

It might seem to be a non-living thing, but it develops a life of its own. More so, when you are the only one who creates it- it develops mannerisms, characteristics, that mirror your own. Not only that, sometimes machines reflect its owner's mannerisms, responds to him/her in ways that it responds to nobody else. If you sit up and take notice, you will realize how true that fact is. Something similar applies to creations which may not be machines, like works of art, among other things- they tell a story about their creators. They come alive too.

The day the machines come alive, is the day we rejoice. The day the machines come alive, we do justice to the fact that we are humans.

Global Warming Can Be Avoided

A few independent observations by me has left me to a realization that i can actively contribute to the mass movement that has begun to curb the rate of global warming. Here, i share them with the general public:

1. Gonna get rid of my black hair- it's gonna be me with my shaved pate now: Black and other dark colored hair absorbs more heat than it radiates. So, more hair I have, the more heat you retain, the more I contribute to global warming.
   The question is, whether my 'sacrifice' would be worth it. What with my hair thinning everyday- it's only a matter of time before I dont actually NEED to shave my pate... it will be naturally barren.
   
2. Trying to quit smoking: The more I smoke, the more I emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and the more I become a cause of Global Warming.

'Economic' Air Travel

Given the ever increasing fuel prices, the air fares have skyrocketed to as high as the aircrafts flying in the air. It has become increasingly important to think about how to make our air travels more economical, to get more value for money. Adverse situations call for unique measures, and after much thought, I have concluded that the following will make air travels worth every penny:

1. Carry baggage which weighs just under, or is exactly, the maximum limit allowed.
2. Put on weight. More weight = more fuel burnt to transport me from Point A to Point B = more value for money.

Eat Healthy, Sil Vous Plait ;)

Has anyone ever wondered how the French manage to stay trim, even while eating many of the things we are advised to avoid, like butter, eggs, and cheese? Even though they enjoy rich foods denied to most dieters, they still manage to have lower cholesterol levels and less heart disease than most others! Look at the statistics- 11% of French adults are said to be obese, while 3 times as many Americans suffer from that condition.

And it's not only about the French- we see that even our previous generations stayed healthy after eating a lot of food that we abstain from in quest for a ‘healthy’ living and diet. They even lived longer, had a fewer health problems during their lifetimes, and enjoy the food without ever feeling guilty!

So, what’s missing?

Let’s take a look at what they eat, or ate. Their typical diet includes more fresh food, such as bread, fruit and vegetables. That means that they consume less processed foods, which tend to contain high carbohydrates and preservatives. Thus, what they eat is generally more healthy and nutritious than what we consume. Choosing foods that are natural rather than processed when we cook go a long way towards improving our health, our waistline, and our satisfaction level with eating.

How you eat is also an important factor. Most of the people who are seen to enjoy good health give priority to mealtimes, making them a social and family experience. That way, they eat less, feel satisfied with their meals, and also get to enjoy the rich food and drink that we often tend to feel guilty about. They don’t just eat for the sake of eating- they embrace the joy of eating. Modern lifestyle has resulted in people wolfing down food on the run, while running from one place to the next. The result? Health problems, increasing waistlines, and not getting to enjoy the food we are eating. It’s official: Studies have shown that when we make time for meals and eat at a more relaxed pace, we end up being more satisfied with what we have consumed, even though we actually have eaten less food.

All we gotta do is break up our meals in courses with smaller portions, take smaller bites, and let our taste buds experience all the flavor that each bite has to offer!!

Happy eating... oops, mealing!!

Iron It In!!

Iron is a mineral found in every cell of the body. It is considered an essential mineral because it is needed to make part of blood cells. The human body needs iron to make the oxygen-carrying proteins hemoglobin and myoglobin. Hemoglobin is found in red blood cells and myoglobin is found in muscles. Iron also makes up part of many proteins in the body. Hence, it is very essential that your body get its share of iron for it to remain fit and function effectively.

Green leafy vegetables are usually rich in iron. Having a good helping of green salads is a good, inviting option for lunch, and dinner. It would also help in keeping a check on the amount of calories, and is a nice & healthy way to go dieting. For breakfast, you may consider having iron fortified cereals with milk. Check the nutrition information on package label for specific iron content. You can also have some prune juice as a source of Iron.Other sources include Broccoli, Dates, Kidney beans, Lima beans, Molasses- blackstrap, Peas- frozen and prepared, Bread (both white and whole wheat), and Brown rice.Some dry fruits like almonds and raisins are also rich in dietary iron. Whew!! Looks like there's a lot of choice for you!! As far as my knowledge goes, having carbonated water does not have any effect on the amount of iron in your body, neither does it help your body in absorbing iron better. Unless, it is fortified with Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), which is a facilitator of iron absorption into your body.

FYI:
In general, iron is not readily absorbed by the body. Dietary iron is either HEME or NON-HEME iron. HEME iron is found only in MEAT, FISH, AND POULTRY and is ABSORBED MUCH MORE EASILY than NON-HEME iron, which is found primarily in FRUITS, VEGETABLES, DRIED BEANS, NUTS AND GRAIN products.
The following factors will increase the iron absorption from non-heme foods:

• A good source of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) - i.e., oranges, grapefruits, tomatoes, broccoli, and strawberries, eaten with a NON-HEME food


• A HEME and NON-HEME food eaten together


• A NON-HEME food cooked in an iron pot, such as a cast iron skillet.
  

A lot of information is available on the net for people interested in knowing more. To quote a few:

• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002422.htm


• http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ida/ida_prevention.html


• http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu/handouts/dietary_sources_iron.html
  

Of Logic & Conformity

"A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven't eaten in 3 years. Which room is safest for him?"

"tell me the ans"

"2nd one"

"no dear :P... it's the third one"

Is this about logic? And whose logic are we talking about anyways? Can there be more than one logic behind the same thing? Something that justifies some other outcome?

Take the above question as an example. The Murderer is condemned to death. So, an interpretation of the question is that the Murderer is choosing between the different ways he can die. Yet, it seems improbable that Lions who have been hungry for 3 years be alive. Even if they are not, the stink in the room will be enough to kill any man. I guess. But, let's, for argument's sake, assume that the lions are alive, and really, REALLY hungry. The choices in front of the Murderer are:

1. Being charred to death by a conflagration.


2. Being riddled by bullets and dying. Remember, they all are assasins, and they might have sympathy for "one of their kinds". Or, they being assasins, have already killed each other, so the room is pretty much empty. Once again, let's just skip a scenario where any of the rooms are empty.


3. Being (viciously) mauled to death by Lions who havent eaten for THREE (!!) years.

Wouldn't it be nice to choose the 2nd option? Death would come quick, and it would also be less painful.

But then. It doesn't matter.


The one who had made the question knows better. In fact, the question was made for a specific answer, to accomodate a specific logic. If you don't accept the logic, you are an idiot. You know nothing. It doesn't matter what your logic says might be the answer.

And you feel euphoric just because your 'logic' matches someone else's or feel rejected, dejected, if it doesn't.

Here we are talking about conformity. Our innate attitude towards life, or shall i say, the very basic nature of human beings is to 'conform' to something or the other. It is one of the 'rules' for humans to be happy. Understandably so, because we are a social animal, and if you don't 'conform' people will make life hell for you. Perhaps the reason why Einstein, even though he was such a Genious, is still a laughing stock for many.


It is not easy to be different. If u just be happy, and keep smiling all the time, people will very kindly label you as a 'nut' case.You can't be your own, because there's always someone watching.



But aren't we forgetting something?

We might be forgetting that the way that we can TRULY be happy is by being ourselves. It is perhaps one of the reasons we remember our childhood so fondly. And perhaps the reason... we miss it too.

Toffees 'n' Memories

The other day my friend's father brought some toffees home. I picked up a few while on my way to office and stuffed them into my pocket. Not because I wanted to have them, but because I wanted to give some of them away to my colleagues. And while I made the routine journey to my office, I was flooded with memories of my childhood. That made me smile, and I realized that even though my childhood was a long time back, some things didn't change. I was, in some ways, still the child, the person, I used to be back then.
When anyone got me a lot of toffees, I used to stuff as many as I could into my pockets, while going to school the next day. Contrary to the other days, I just couldn't wait to get to school. Then I would gather my closest friends around and distribute the toffees between us. It gave me immense satisfaction and happiness to do so. It was as if I was sharing a part of a treasure that I stumbled upon. It was one of the fun things that almost became a ritual, yet never stopping being fun.
And it's strange how memories bind themselves to almost everything. Everything.